Petoskey's Toad Hall gift shop going out of business

Toad Hall, a downtown Petoskey gift shop with a history dating back 40-plus years, is expected to close in early 2012.

“Over the past several years, the store has not performed as well as we would like,” said Dave Carlson, who owns the shop at 215 Howard St. with his wife, Deb. “While we have enjoyed being involved in downtown Petoskey and in retail, I feel it is time to shift gears.”

The decision to close the shop was a “very difficult” one, Dave added.

“We both have enjoyed Toad Hall — running it, buying for it, the day to day operations, meeting new people, and developing friendships with repeat customers,” he said. “With Toad Hall being downtown for as long as it has, frequently we meet people with ‘Toad Hall stories’ from their youth or past; it has been a rewarding experience to be a part of the downtown and so many shoppers’ memories.”

Toad Hall’s history dates back to around 1970. Founded by Jack Harris, the store’s name was inspired by “The Wind in the Willows,” a classic children’s book by Kenneth Grahame. Mr. Toad, an eccentric character in the book, kept a somewhat eclectic collection of items in his home, known as Toad Hall.

“The store still reflects that namesake,” Dave said. “While the product lines and categories of gifts and home decor items have changed throughout the years, the store has always housed a wide variety of artwork, gifts and collectibles.”

Deb Carlson’s involvement at the store began about 20 years ago, when she worked there part-time as a teenager.

“I started working in the store part time in 1998 — just filling in in the evenings for what was supposed to be a few weeks,” Dave said. “Somehow, a few weeks has turned into many enjoyable years. Petoskey’s downtown is such a great atmosphere. Growing up in Petoskey, I never realized what a unique and special place it was, until I had been gone from it for several years — you just don’t find a downtown like Petoskey anymore.”

The Carlsons acquired Toad Hall from longtime owners John and Jane Guisinger in 2002. The store’s number of employees has fluctuated with the seasons, but it currently includes Dave and four part-time staff members.

A going-out-of-business sale will begin Thursday at the store, Dave said. He estimates that the store’s final closing will take place six to eight weeks later.

“As things wrap up here, I will shift more attention to what’s next for me,” Dave said. “While I would love to stay active in business or downtown, my background is in political economics and literature. After serving four years in the Marine Corps, I received a bachelor’s degree from Hillsdale College and a master’s from (Michigan State University). My experience and schooling lends itself to many different opportunities, and I will be looking to explore some of those opportunities here in Northern Michigan soon.”